Often overlooked by divers is the importance of proper care for our ears/aural hygiene.

Extreme buildup can form a a plug in your ear canal that traps air between itself and the eardrum. This condition could result in a ruptured eardrum due to pressure eqalization.

An earwax plug can also lead to a form of vertigo that results from chilled water entering one of your ears, while being blocked from entering your other ear. This condition can cause a temperature differential between your two ears that can result in what's called caloric vertigo.